Skins FAQ/request/comments for Nitrogen 0.3+

[microfi]

This page is intended for the questions concerning skin development and installation, skin requests and comments from the skins page.
If you designed a skin for Nitrogen 0.3+, post it on the skins page (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=3343640)!

Click here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=3914099) to go to Nitrogen official thread!

This page will contain any questions, skin requests, comments and thanks to the skins posted on the skins page (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=3343640). Before you ask, make sure your question isn't already answered on the FAQ. If you want to be a skin designer, download the Skin Toolbox (http://microfi-nitrogen.googlecode.com/files/nitrogen-skinbox-1.0.1-win32.zip) and create your own skins!

FAQ

General skin questions

:: How do I install skins?
:: :: After you downloaded your desired skin, uncompress the ZIP file and copy the SK2 file to the "skins" directory inside the application's folder on your device (e.g. "\Program Files\Nitrogen\skins"). After that, you may run the player and use the skin selector to load the skin file.

:: Are the skins from 0.3 compatible with 1.0?
:: :: Yes, they are! The new version (1.0) uses the same skin file structure as 0.3. Anyway, it's recommended to download the new skin toolbox (1.0.1) which includes the new icons that are used by 1.0.

:: Are the skins from 0.2.1 compatible with 0.3?
:: :: No, they aren't. The new skin files (SK2) allow more advanced behaviours and extensions that the old ones (SKN) didn't. So, if your favorite skin for 0.2.1 isn't available for 0.3, you can either be patient and wait for the author to upgrade, or you can get the bitmaps and upgrade it yourself.

Skin development

:: What's the difference between SKPROJ and SK2 files?
:: :: You can understand SKPROJ as the source of the skin file. These file extensions are handled by the Skin Studio (skstudio.exe), and contain uncompressed, 24-bit bitmap pictures (that's why they're large). The SK2 files contain 16-bit pictures, which passed by a Floyd-Steinberd dithering to assure quality, and are ready to be read by Nitrogen. To convert (I'd say compile, as you can consider SKPROJ the source and SK2 the binary) from SKPROJ to SK2 you use the Skin Export (skexport.exe) tool. For this, you can either click on "Export SK2 file" from the Skin Studio or execute the Skin Export directly.

:: Why can't Skin Studio load SK2 files?
:: :: That's because the SK2 file has already been sliced, compressed and dithered by the Skin Exporter. Also, the file structure of both files are different. If you want to edit a skin file, you have to acquire the SKPROJ file, either downloading on the skins page if available or asking the author.

(more questions/answers soon...)

Tutorial for Skin Toolbox (UPDATED MAR 13) (http://code.google.com/p/microfi-nitrogen/wiki/SkinToolboxTutorial)
It contains important tables and data for skin designers (such as screen sizes and so on).

[Ankarii]

How to create skins in Skin Toolbox?
How to add image on button?
What is hotspot background?
Mask is pressed button?

Give me project you default skin for example

Skin Toolbox it's the difficult program :confused:

[microfi]

How to create skins in Skin Toolbox?
Give me project you default skin for example

Skin Toolbox it's the difficult program :confused:

Hi!
Skin Toolbox is made of two main programs: the Skin Studio (skstudio.exe) and the Skin Exporter (skexport.exe). On the Skin Studio, you can design every aspect of your skin, placing the buttons where you want them to be and so on. This program loads and saves SKPROJ files, that are bigger than the SK2 files (which are read by Nitrogen). To convert from SKPROJ to SK2, you can use the Skin Exporter. This utility allows you to create a ZIP file containing the source skin file (SKPROJ), the compiled skin file (SK2) and a screenshot. It means that it generates a ZIP file ready to be posted here on XDA. Concerning the new way to create skins, now you simply add four images, with the size of the screen resolution. They're called backgrounds. On the normal background, you load a screen in which the buttons are unpressed and the trackbars are empty. On the hotspot background, you load a screen in which the buttons are pressed and the trackbars are full. The (toggle) state of the backgrounds are for buttons that support it (such as Shuffle, Repeat, Play/Pause, and now the Next and Previous). Anyway, I'll provide a more detailed tutorial soon, and by now you can download the attachment and explore the SKPROJ files.
Thanks, Filipe.

[Ankarii]

Cool. Very interesting. I'll try.
Thanks

[BDWN]

I'm now attempting to make a simple WVGA skin, just figuring out the basics of the skinstudio. The example you posted is very handy, maybe you should think about including it in the skinstudio zip, so people won't have to figure out everything on their own :p.

Great work on 0.3 by the way :) .

[Kevlah]

Excellent work on the new version. I've had some problems with the default VGA skin for WM6, it doesn't seem to respond to Play/Pause and some other buttons. I think it's the skin because I can get to all other functions using the options menu and play/pause using the hard keys on my Diamond. I'll have a play around with the skins editor to see if I can spot anything.

Oh yeah almost forgot, THANKS :D

[Kevlah]

Sorry to sound stupid here but is there an option to set the size of the canvas for VGA? I have looked all over and can't see it. The last version had the options when you click New. Are you supposed to just add things in and let it make the size out of the images you put in if you are creating from scratch?
I tried your example and simply exported it and applied on my device but it is QVGA (interestingly the play/pause works on this one but not on the default VGA). Is there a way to import the default VGA skin so I can modify it?
I guess you're probably working on a FAQ that will answer these so I'll just wait until it comes out.

EDIT: Just noticed you've fixed the play/pause and previous/next buttons now in 0.3.1 for VGA. Excellent thanks :)

[microfi]

Excellent work on the new version. I've had some problems with the default VGA skin for WM6, it doesn't seem to respond to Play/Pause and some other buttons. I think it's the skin because I can get to all other functions using the options menu and play/pause using the hard keys on my Diamond. I'll have a play around with the skins editor to see if I can spot anything.

Oh yeah almost forgot, THANKS :D

Hi!
As I don't have a VGA device, I couldn't entirely test the skin, so I forgot to assign the buttons for play/pause and the other buttons :o. The latest release (0.3.1) that came a few hours after 0.3, fixes this.
I'm sorry I missed that.
Filipe.

[microfi]

Sorry to sound stupid here but is there an option to set the size of the canvas for VGA? I have looked all over and can't see it. The last version had the options when you click New. Are you supposed to just add things in and let it make the size out of the images you put in if you are creating from scratch?
I tried your example and simply exported it and applied on my device but it is QVGA (interestingly the play/pause works on this one but not on the default VGA). Is there a way to import the default VGA skin so I can modify it?
I guess you're probably working on a FAQ that will answer these so I'll just wait until it comes out.

EDIT: Just noticed you've fixed the play/pause and previous/next buttons now in 0.3.1 for VGA. Excellent thanks :)

Hi!
The skin studio picks the size of the background image and sets it as the screen resolution. I'm planning to provide a table with the resolutions and the matching background size (e.g. QVGA is 240x268, VGA is 480x536 and so on, because of the space left for the softkeys and the window title).
Thanks, Filipe.

[BDWN]

Okay so I've pretty much finished my WVGA skin, would you be able to post the project file for the default VGA skin as the QVGA project contains smaller icons (for the browser). Also I seem to be unable to return to the main window after opening the media browser, only thing I could do was restart the program. Will post it up as soon as I've got the bigger icons :) .

[Kevlah]

Okay so I've pretty much finished my WVGA skin, would you be able to post the project file for the default VGA skin as the QVGA project contains smaller icons (for the browser). Also I seem to be unable to return to the main window after opening the media browser, only thing I could do was restart the program. Will post it up as soon as I've got the bigger icons :) .

Seconded for the project file for VGA, would be really useful as I probably won't create from scratch, just move things around from Microfi's (if he doesn't mind).

[microfi]

Okay so I've pretty much finished my WVGA skin, would you be able to post the project file for the default VGA skin as the QVGA project contains smaller icons (for the browser). Also I seem to be unable to return to the main window after opening the media browser, only thing I could do was restart the program. Will post it up as soon as I've got the bigger icons :) .

Hi! You can't return to the player because your HTC X-Button is set to close the application (that's something I have to figure out...). The VGA skin project is attached below. If you wish to copy all the icons at once, use the "Export icons" and "Import icons" option on the Skin Studio.
Thanks, Filipe.

[microfi]

Seconded for the project file for VGA, would be really useful as I probably won't create from scratch, just move things around from Microfi's (if he doesn't mind).

Hi! Of course I don't mind! Feel free to edit any skins. I'll encourage the skin posters to post the SKPROJ file along so that others can edit them!
By the way, I'll send the original pictures (PNG files from Fireworks), if you want more advanced edits.
Thanks, Filipe.

[Kevlah]

Hi! You can't return to the player because your HTC X-Button is set to close the application (that's something I have to figure out...). The VGA skin project is attached below. If you wish to copy all the icons at once, use the "Export icons" and "Import icons" option on the Skin Studio.
Thanks, Filipe.

Is that a device specific problem then or just the htc x button setting? i don't have this problem (when i press x on media browser it goes back to player) but i have x button set to minimise not close.

Thanks for the vga proj files :)

[microfi]

Is that a device specific problem then or just the htc x button setting? i don't have this problem (when i press x on media browser it goes back to player) but i have x button set to minimise not close.

Thanks for the vga proj files :)

It happens when your HTC X-Button is set to close. As yours is set to minimize, Nitrogen works properly.

[BDWN]

Hi! You can't return to the player because your HTC X-Button is set to close the application (that's something I have to figure out...). The VGA skin project is attached below. If you wish to copy all the icons at once, use the "Export icons" and "Import icons" option on the Skin Studio.
Thanks, Filipe.

Ah all right, found a way to get back to the main window, if you open Nitrogen using the start menu and then open the browser, I can get back by opening the program again (while it's still running) via the start menu. A simple solution would probably be to add a back link in one of the context menus in the browser.

The skin studio is a really great piece of software, it's relatively easy and seems very open for newer versions of Nitrogen (which will include new features of course). There's just one thing that bugs me, not a biggy tho, you can't rename items, haha, would be handy for typos, but then again, not many people will see a typo in the project file..:)

[emilitingo]

hi microfi

do you have 1 example in skproj WVGA please?

I wanna change my "WVGA Black Neon" to this new version ...can you help me?

saludos

PD: AND THANKS YOU GOOD JOB

[microfi]

hi microfi

do you have 1 example in skproj WVGA please?

I wanna change my "WVGA Black Neon" to this new version ...can you help me?

saludos

PD: AND THANKS YOU GOOD JOB

Hi!
You can download the VGA sample, and change the backgrounds dimensions to 480x696 pixels. This way, your skin will fit WVGA devices. You can take a look on the tutorial too (link on the first topic). It's quite incomplete, but it's already covering the start. If you have any further questions, just ask!
Thanks, Filipe.

[vitux]

please, i need a 320x320 skin... for samsung i780

[Feldhege]

Hey Filipe,
Per your request, I will post my comment here as you have asked. I want you to know that I appreciate your hard work. I am a programmer too and realize how much time a "non paying" project takes. I was NOT trying to screw up your skins posts. I had simply thought that since the post containg the skin which (at the time) I thought was defective was in the other thread, it would make the most sense to post there and give someone the chance to correct it. It would have stopped there (for me at least) if the other gentlemen would have simply posted that you had requested all comments here. I only replied back to let him know (since he only had a few posts to his name) that that kind of conduct would be considered rude and that simply posting a link to this thread (like you did) would have been a better choice of tactics.

I will restate my potential bug here for you. When switching skins from the default QVGA one that comes with .31 to one of the WQVGA ones in the other thread, I noticed that the option menu does not get lengthened correctly. To fix it, you just have to exit and bring back up nitrogen and the menu then displays correctly. Probably just need to add a refresh to the options menu. Keep up the good work.

Robb

[microfi]

Hey Filipe,
Per your request, I will post my comment here as you have asked. I want you to know that I appreciate your hard work. I am a programmer too and realize how much time a "non paying" project takes. I was NOT trying to screw up your skins posts. I had simply thought that since the post containg the skin which (at the time) I thought was defective was in the other thread, it would make the most sense to post there and give someone the chance to correct it. It would have stopped there (for me at least) if the other gentlemen would have simply posted that you had requested all comments here. I only replied back to let him know (since he only had a few posts to his name) that that kind of conduct would be considered rude and that simply posting a link to this thread (like you did) would have been a better choice of tactics.

I will restate my potential bug here for you. When switching skins from the default QVGA one that comes with .31 to one of the WQVGA ones in the other thread, I noticed that the option menu does not get lengthened correctly. To fix it, you just have to exit and bring back up nitrogen and the menu then displays correctly. Probably just need to add a refresh to the options menu. Keep up the good work.

Robb

Hi!
Yes, you have to restart the program so that the menu displays correctly (this made you think it was a skin bug). As you only need to do it once, I won't consider this an urgent bug, but I'll provide a fix for the next release.
Thanks, Filipe.

[spaluch]

Could someone please make a skin 320 x 320? I would really appreciate it. Thanks

[maciejst]

Hey Filipe!

I must say it's a big deal of good work you did with the new nitrogen!

I made a very simple VGA skin (thx for the example skin: made it all easy to comprehend...). I'm just uploading that one.

I found a bug, though it may be a problem with my system only. When I set up a button for equalizer (the old 'settigns button) it stopped working. when you click, it does show the background from hotspot picture, but nothing happens. Same when I tried to set up a new button for equalizer. Other options work somehow.

I also think the user's guide for skinbox will be a lot easier to understand when you add two points which took me a while to catch:

1. That Nitrogen uses 4 graphics and places 2nd/3rd/4th in the place of a button which is pressed.
2. That buttons are only areas on the screen which just make a small piece of the other picture appear.

As I said: the example helped a lot!


Thanks for Nitrogen :D. Keep up the good job!
I'm looking forward to more skins coming up...
Maciej
ps. Promise to make a small donation anytime soon!

--------------------------------------------------
HTC Touch Diamond... & Nitrogen!

[Kevlah]

Hey Filipe!

I must say it's a big deal of good work you did with the new nitrogen!

I made a very simple VGA skin (thx for the example skin: made it all easy to comprehend...). I'm just uploading that one.

I found a bug, though it may be a problem with my system only. When I set up a button for equalizer (the old 'settigns button) it stopped working. when you click, it does show the background from hotspot picture, but nothing happens. Same when I tried to set up a new button for equalizer. Other options work somehow.

I also think the user's guide for skinbox will be a lot easier to understand when you add two points which took me a while to catch:

1. That Nitrogen uses 4 graphics and places 2nd/3rd/4th in the place of a button which is pressed.
2. That buttons are only areas on the screen which just make a small piece of the other picture appear.

As I said: the example helped a lot!


Thanks for Nitrogen :D. Keep up the good job!
I'm looking forward to more skins coming up...
Maciej
ps. Promise to make a small donation anytime soon!

--------------------------------------------------
HTC Touch Diamond... & Nitrogen!

Thanks for the skin maciejst. I have it working fine on my Diamond, I like the dice for shuffle :). Can you send me the equaliser change that you tried and I will see if it does the same on mine, or i might just try changing the function of settings button myself if I get time.

EDIT: I've tested by changing settings to equaliser and it doesn't do anything. Options > Equaliser does work though.

[microfi]

Thanks for the skin maciejst. I have it working fine on my Diamond, I like the dice for shuffle :). Can you send me the equaliser change that you tried and I will see if it does the same on mine, or i might just try changing the function of settings button myself if I get time.

EDIT: I've tested by changing settings to equaliser and it doesn't do anything. Options > Equaliser does work though.

Hi!
I'll figure out what's happening to the equalizer and will provide a fix soon.
Thanks for notifying!
Filipe.

[gruvngyrl]

Just a note:
I installed the QVGA Manila-Like skin by BDWN (which I LOVE, btw), and for some reason it's actually too long for my standard 240x320 QVGA screen - the bottom 1/3 of the wheel is cut of, along with everyone below that. I thought maybe I'd somehow chosen the wrong .zip, so I installed the VGA and needless to say, it was WAY too big for my screen, lol.

I also have to say, NITROGEN ROCKS!! I've been looking for a good, fast, intuitive, finger-friendly stand-alone player for a little while now, and this fits the bill PERFECTLY.

I'm actually quite in love with the default 0.3.1 skins, but the only piece of functionality I keep feeling is missing is the ability to fast forward through a song with any accuracy. I can drag the progress bar to hit some unknown part of the song, but I generally end up way too farther along than I wanted to fast forward to, which is why I was trying to download BDWN's skin (looks like there is a more finger-friendly way to drag through the song progress). Also, is it possible to get a skin that looks like the Nitrogen 0.2.1 default skin (or whatever the very first skin photo in microfi's 1st post - the one with Sweet Home Alabama in the titlebar) here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=462245) is? While I do love the new defaults, the big picture of the musical note, which doesn't seem to serve any function as far as I've been able to tell, takes up way too much screen real estate, and might be better replaced with a longer song progress bar and volume bar. I know I'm getting all suggestion-y, but I have no skin skills, and can't even so much as figure out how to use the skin creator, so my best hope is to ask and cross my fingers! :o

Last thing, maciejst, if you ever decide to make a qvga skin like your takeiteasy vga version, please, please link it. It's just too cool looking.

Thanks for all of your hard work, everyone. Everything here is ahhhmazing!

[microfi]

Just a note:
I installed the QVGA Manila-Like skin by BDWN (which I LOVE, btw), and for some reason it's actually too long for my standard 240x320 QVGA screen - the bottom 1/3 of the wheel is cut of, along with everyone below that. I thought maybe I'd somehow chosen the wrong .zip, so I installed the VGA and needless to say, it was WAY too big for my screen, lol.


That's because the Manila-Like skins are WVGA and WQVGA. As the WVGA resolution is 80 pixels larger than QVGA (vertically), there are things you won't see on your screen. You'll have to wait until BDWN releases QVGA versions (which I'm also waiting for).

I also have to say, NITROGEN ROCKS!! I've been looking for a good, fast, intuitive, finger-friendly stand-alone player for a little while now, and this fits the bill PERFECTLY.


Many thanks! I'm glad you liked.

I'm actually quite in love with the default 0.3.1 skins, but the only piece of functionality I keep feeling is missing is the ability to fast forward through a song with any accuracy. I can drag the progress bar to hit some unknown part of the song, but I generally end up way too farther along than I wanted to fast forward to, which is why I was trying to download BDWN's skin (looks like there is a more finger-friendly way to drag through the song progress).


I'll surely work on that in a soon release. With the big performance improvement on 0.3.2, it will finally be possible!

Also, is it possible to get a skin that looks like the Nitrogen 0.2.1 default skin (or whatever the very first skin photo in microfi's 1st post - the one with Sweet Home Alabama in the titlebar) here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=462245) is?

If I have some free time, I'll design that skin for 0.3.2.

While I do love the new defaults, the big picture of the musical note, which doesn't seem to serve any function as far as I've been able to tell, takes up way too much screen real estate, and might be better replaced with a longer song progress bar and volume bar.

This picture is replaced by the song album art, if you have the JPEGs on your album folder. See the FAQ on the player's official thread to know how you can add them to your device.

Thanks, Filipe.

[BDWN]

iPodLike [All Resolutions] Project Files

Some people requested these, so here you go :) .

[BDWN]

That's because the Manila-Like skins are WVGA and WQVGA. As the WVGA resolution is 80 pixels larger than QVGA (vertically), there are things you won't see on your screen. You'll have to wait until BDWN releases QVGA versions (which I'm also waiting for).

They're up now :D .

[spaluch]

EDWN...love the iPodLilke look. Is there any way you can make a resolution 320 x 320? I don't think the ones listed there would fit to my screen size. Thanks for you help!

[spaluch]

This is definately the best player I have used so far. I am still using 2.1 because I am waiting for someone with a lot more talent than me to make a 320x320 skin. Great product and I look forward to many great things to come. THANKS!!!!

[maciejst]

Just a note:
Last thing, maciejst, if you ever decide to make a qvga skin like your takeiteasy vga version, please, please link it. It's just too cool looking.
Thanks for all of your hard work, everyone. Everything here is ahhhmazing!

Hey there!

Will make a QVGA version of takeiteasy as soon as I have a spare while. Just wanted it to have the functionality of the default 0.2.1 skin so it isn't anything too creative :]. When it comes to being able to ffwd thru a songs- will think of a 2-wheel skin... that could actually be quite doable. I suppose the 'seek time' option does that.

Also, Kevhal and Microfi - thanks for checking and looking into the equalizer problem. Sorry for not replying earlier as I just returned. I was wondering: since I made the skin in PPT, I checked MS licesne terms and they say you can share stuff made in PPT for non profit purposes. It seems that whenever someone makes a skin in PPT, they could actually share them along with other skin files for edition of colors, etc. What do you guys think abt that? Do you know anything abt MS license terms and sharing things in forums? I know PPT is a rough tool but the new one does allow making quite neat stuff (you can edit curved shapes fully just as in cdr and place things very accurately using settins). Lemme know whenever you manage to fix the eq button.

Thanks & take care!

Maciej
--------------------------------------------------
HTC Touch Diamond... & Nitrogen!

[Kevlah]

Hey there!

Will make a QVGA version of takeiteasy as soon as I have a spare while. Just wanted it to have the functionality of the default 0.2.1 skin so it isn't anything too creative :]. When it comes to being able to ffwd thru a songs- will think of a 2-wheel skin... that could actually be quite doable. I suppose the 'seek time' option does that.

Also, Kevhal and Microfi - thanks for checking and looking into the equalizer problem. Sorry for not replying earlier as I just returned. I was wondering: since I made the skin in PPT, I checked MS licesne terms and they say you can share stuff made in PPT for non profit purposes. It seems that whenever someone makes a skin in PPT, they could actually share them along with other skin files for edition of colors, etc. What do you guys think abt that? Do you know anything abt MS license terms and sharing things in forums? I know PPT is a rough tool but the new one does allow making quite neat stuff (you can edit curved shapes fully just as in cdr and place things very accurately using settins). Lemme know whenever you manage to fix the eq button.

Thanks & take care!

Maciej
--------------------------------------------------
HTC Touch Diamond... & Nitrogen!

I like that idea of PPT files. I was looking for something to create my skin with and thought about getting an old copy of PaintShopPro that I have somewhere but PowerPoint seems pretty flexible for this purpose and saves me the bother of hunting out my software :) I think as long as you aren't selling the PPT files you should be OK to share them.

[microfi]

I like that idea of PPT files. I was looking for something to create my skin with and thought about getting an old copy of PaintShopPro that I have somewhere but PowerPoint seems pretty flexible for this purpose and saves me the bother of hunting out my software :) I think as long as you aren't selling the PPT files you should be OK to share them.

Hi!
I also liked the idea of sharing the PPT files. Actually, I always thought that, if you made the document (PPT, DOC, etc..), you can do whatever you want with it, can't you?
Filipe.

[maciejst]

Hi!
I also liked the idea of sharing the PPT files. Actually, I always thought that, if you made the document (PPT, DOC, etc..), you can do whatever you want with it, can't you?
Filipe.

Kevlah, I think it's even no crime if you use clipart in them in fact! The MSLT (MS license terms) for Home&Student Office 2007 says:

Quote: "b. Media Elements and Templates. You may copy and use images, clip art, animations, sounds, music, shapes, video clips and templates
provided with the software and identified for such use in documents and
projects that you create. You may distribute those documents and
projects non-commercially. If you wish to use these media elements or
templates for any other purpose, go to www.microsoft.com/permission to
learn whether that use is allowed."

So... looks like we're all good! Will share some files once I've done the new ones.

Filipe, I was wondering if it is possible to place one wheel within another, if you disable the center button for the larger wheel... I'll check it, so don't waste u'r time with a reply if u don't have a ready answer plz :].

Take care,

Maciej
--------------------------------------------------
HTC Touch Diamond... & Nitrogen!

[gruvngyrl]

I'm trying to figure this whole skin thing out so that I can maybe make something that's layed out just the way I need/want it to be, but I am SO lost with the skinbox. Is there someplace where the default icons are located, or some way to pull them out of the skins that currently exist? The skins I've seen so far look to have similiarities in at least some of the buttons, but I don't see any graphics files in the .zip with the skinbox itself. Or are you guys making them from scratch in Photoshop or something? :confused: Sorry for the noobness... I've never seen or tried anything like making a skin for something before, but I'm trying!

[maciejst]

Gruvngyrl,

Do u mean icons for the settings menu or buttons in the player screen? If the 2nd, well the idea is that there are no icons for buttons, you only make 4 pictures and then place buttons over them using skinbox. Wherever u place a button, nitrogen will switch what's under the button to what's in the other picture (look at the manual Filipe made- it explains a lot on other functions).
For icons in the settings menu (which pops up when u press 'settings') on the other hand, you can load every one of them into the program: just need to have the icons (have to either make them yourself or find free ones on the web).

So... yes.. you have to use photoshop or ppt or some graphic tool to make the skin as it would look like. U also need to edit masks for buttons in skinbox wherever you place 1 button over the other (so that some part of it doesn't change to the other color/picture).

Hope that's what you meant. As an example, you can find the working file I used for making 'takeiteasy' skin in the skins section along with the qvga version of the skin. It's pptx so if u use old ms office/other office package u may need to download some compatibility pack to run it. It needs saving as bmp and then resizing to be then fitted into skinbox...

Take care,
Maciej

[gruvngyrl]

Gruvngyrl,

Do u mean icons for the settings menu or buttons in the player screen? If the 2nd, well the idea is that there are no icons for buttons, you only make 4 pictures and then place buttons over them using skinbox. Wherever u place a button, nitrogen will switch what's under the button to what's in the other picture (look at the manual Filipe made- it explains a lot on other functions).
For icons in the settings menu (which pops up when u press 'settings') on the other hand, you can load every one of them into the program: just need to have the icons (have to either make them yourself or find free ones on the web).

So... yes.. you have to use photoshop or ppt or some graphic tool to make the skin as it would look like. U also need to edit masks for buttons in skinbox wherever you place 1 button over the other (so that some part of it doesn't change to the other color/picture).

Hope that's what you meant. As an example, you can find the working file I used for making 'takeiteasy' skin in the skins section along with the qvga version of the skin. It's pptx so if u use old ms office/other office package u may need to download some compatibility pack to run it. It needs saving as bmp and then resizing to be then fitted into skinbox...

Take care,
Maciej

Thanks, Maciej! I'll go take a look at the file and see if I can figure out what all went into it. I'm sure I'll just sit there all befuddled, tear my hair out over it for an hour, and then decide that there's no way I'll ever pick it apart, lol, but if by some miracle I do figure it out, I'll be so excited.

[microfi]

Hi guys!
I have just updated the skin toolbox tutorial (http://code.google.com/p/microfi-nitrogen/wiki/SkinToolboxTutorial). Although it's still incomplete, I've provided information about masks and a few more tricks.
Thanks, Filipe.

[quicksite]

The (toggle) state of the backgrounds are for buttons that support it (such as Shuffle, Repeat, Play/Pause, and now the Next and Previous). Anyway, I'll provide a more detailed tutorial soon, and by now you can download the attachment
Thanks, Filipe.
Hello microfi,

I hope this is okay place to place comment.

About 3 months ago I discovered Nitrogen -- and based on all sorts of features I liked, I made it my primary player, replacing audio manager, wmp, but also s2p.

I am not sure if this is within your app, or skin implementations, but the circle dial to select songs is what did it for me. Just great, and fast.

PROBLEM: Sadly, the app chokes for me, on my Wing/Herald, whenever I open a new app, or perform something that takes cpu power. It skips for a half second and resumes. I am running TF2D on a 6.1 manila rom, and on any of the other mp3 players listed above, these skips/chokes do not happen. I really want to use your app, but I have not been able to get past this problem.

If this has been commented on and discussed, I am sorry for repetition. Am I the only one experiencing this?

thank you - and I look forward to a next version which will work better for me.

[maciejst]

Hello microfi,
PROBLEM: Sadly, the app chokes for me, on my Wing/Herald, whenever I open a new app, or perform something that takes cpu power. It skips for a half second and resumes. I am running TF2D on a 6.1 manila rom, and on any of the other mp3 players listed above, these skips/chokes do not happen. I really want to use your app, but I have not been able to get past this problem.


Filipe,

I noticed the above on my diamond too.

Moreover, whenever I turn nitrogen on and press shuffle, it always goes to the same songs. Surprisingly, if I manually come back to either of them, shuffle-sellects different songs this time. yet, when you exit and reenter the program, press shuffle (doesn't matter how many times), at first you get the same songs. Does nitrogen somehow remember last shuffle que? or may it be caused by the shuffling 'algorithm'? once in a while it changes to another set of songs... and then you always get this set of songs in shuffle.

I also noticed that u cannot move thru songs in shuffle: u can only scroll to the end of one song for nitrogen to choose another for u. using next/prev song buttons or wheels with this function will only move you to the next title from the playlist. I saw a different way of dealing with it in another player: the playlist section there allowed you to order songs according to titles or artists or arrange them randomly. so whenever you pressed shuffle, the playlist itself would mix songs. Maybe that's an easy way to do it. otherwise, it'd be really cool if, when u shuffle, for example the next/prev song buttons showed you the next song in shuffle.

Take care,

Maciej
---------------------------------
HTC Touch Diamond... & Nitrogen!

[Kevlah]

Hello microfi,

I hope this is okay place to place comment.......

PROBLEM: Sadly, the app chokes for me, on my Wing/Herald, whenever I open a new app, or perform something that takes cpu power. It skips for a half second and resumes. I am running TF2D on a 6.1 manila rom, and on any of the other mp3 players listed above, these skips/chokes do not happen. I really want to use your app, but I have not been able to get past this problem.

If this has been commented on and discussed, I am sorry for repetition. Am I the only one experiencing this?

thank you - and I look forward to a next version which will work better for me.


Filipe,

I noticed the above on my diamond too.



There is a problem with the Diamond Audio lag that affects all 3rd party audio players on a number of HTC devices (mainly new ones so I'm not sure if this is the same with Wing/Herald) and is discussed here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=492312 and there has been research from some others where you can find some more comments here: http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=3605

This comment should really be in the Nitrogen thread so I'll post this there (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=455750&page=48)

[zorza]

Hi guys.
Is it possible to make a skin for this resolution: 320 x 240 pixels (QVGA) ?
And I mean 320 horizontally and 240 vertically.
It's for this device: http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/cellular-blowout_2043_841640399
I'd be very grateful.

[fikurillo]

Hi!

How do I go back from the browser or the playlist to the player? When I start the song in the playlist, I cannot quit back to the player, I have to restart the program which is quite annoying. Otherwise I just love this program.

[Kpow]

Is it possible to make a vertical volume controller? Instead of horizontal

[Kpow]

Hi!

How do I go back from the browser or the playlist to the player? When I start the song in the playlist, I cannot quit back to the player, I have to restart the program which is quite annoying. Otherwise I just love this program.

Hit your back button on the phone

[Fana7ic]

I just finished this MOCKUP and since I dont have a windows pc right here and never before made a skin for nitrogen, I just wanted to aks if it is possible to make a real skin out of this.
Im asking because of the transparency, position of items/buttons et cetera.

When I get home today Ill give the real skinning a try, till then have a look at the mockup.


(of course it almost looks like the iPod touch / iPhone, as this was the intention ;))

[12gage]

I just finished this MOCKUP and since I dont have a windows pc right here and never before made a skin for nitrogen, I just wanted to aks if it is possible to make a real skin out of this.
Im asking because of the transparency, position of items/buttons et cetera.

When I get home today Ill give the real skinning a try, till then have a look at the mockup.


(of course it almost looks like the iPod touch / iPhone, as this was the intention ;))

I would love one like this for VGA, I love the S2P look but I like this program better

[twolf]

Hi, congratulations on the new version. :)

Would you consider these requests:
- Transparent PNG support on skins.
- possibility to add dinamic images, so that instead of:
background = "bg.png"
...could be:
background = "\Windows\bg.png"

So that we can use the current wallpaper of our today screen.
:)

[atown305]

320x320 skin please

[simbadogg]

question...i just downloaded a great skin that someone made for QVGA called white nitrogen. the thing is, the person that ported it originally only made it for portrait mode, then another fellow came along and made a landscape only skin. Is there anyway to combine the 2 skins together so when my phone switches from portrait to landscape it automatically uses the appropriate skin?

[cmelyo]

I had the same question on automatic switch between portrait & landscape.
At the end I have made the skin posted here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3956752&postcount=183

http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=195737&d=1245009631

It works well !!
(problem with setting windows is not a big deal at all).

What's your feeling on this idea?
Why not doing all skins like that?

[rayraven]

@microfi,

I'm wokring on a skin for my QVGA device, and I have a few wishes for the skin development :)

1. Ability to hide the bottom bar in the player [ the one which shows the 'Options' & 'Media' soft keys]
2. Ability to map the 'Options' soft-key to a button, to allow for an alternative when the bottom-bar is hidden.

Thanks

[dreamdx]

I had the same question on automatic switch between portrait & landscape.
At the end I have made the skin posted here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3956752&postcount=183

http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=195737&d=1245009631

It works well !!
(problem with setting windows is not a big deal at all).

What's your feeling on this idea?
Why not doing all skins like that?
Because some people might want to develop skins without the need to pay attention to the cut in the landscape view. Skins may use extra buttons etc and it would be ALOT easier to design the 2 versions and then create one skin file that icludes them both.

[bstylz911]

can someone help me out
wen i press the blank screen button all it does is dim the light to 0%
it doesnt really make ablank screen
any one else?

[lomonos]

I tried Nitrogen on my SPA and it seems I can't try to read a mp3 if it's placed in a folder having numerous mp3 (some have about 50 mp3).

Does anybody have this issue?

[cmelyo]

Because some people might want to develop skins without the need to pay attention to the cut in the landscape view. Skins may use extra buttons etc and it would be ALOT easier to design the 2 versions and then create one skin file that icludes them both.

I agree except for alot: a version with duplicated buttons at bottom and left is not that difficult.
The issue is as the auto switch is not managed by nitrogen (but it is by my i900), having 2 skins is uselss.
Nevermind, i keep it for me...

[Tubular Tos]

:) Hello there ! Since it is said in the topic title we can do requests ,so here is mine !

I'm a new Samsung Player Addict user and i've installed this great program Nitrogen ! Thanks for this nice program ! I only use one skin for the moment , it's the glossy green from Cmelyo ..i guess ! For me this is the best skin and the nicer one for the moment !

I've tried to use the skintool but it seems i'm really a noob an idiot or such a cretin ! :p I simply and really can't do anything because i don't understand the program even after seeing the tutorial !

Please guys ! I'm a great fan of guitarist Mike Oldfield ! Could you please do something with his Tubular Bells sign ?

If unfortunately you don't know what i'm talking about here is the Google images search about Tubular Bells sign !
http://images.google.fr/images?q=tubular%20bells&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:fr:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=fr&tab=wi

Thanks !;)

[grumbly_bum]

Just wanted to say thanks for all your great work microfi. I'll definitely have to remember to donate next pay day! I'm really impressed by the fact you've released such a simple and easy to use skin editor as well. Just one question from me though. I've been trying to implement a round playback tracker on the slider, but I'm unfamiliar with how to get transparency on a bitmap. I know it's possible as I chose the wrong bitmap with an icon I downloaded, which had an embedded alpha channel. But no matter what I tried in photoshop I always end with a white square around my circle. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Keep up the good work!

[RickJames]

what si WVGA and all the other VGA mess? i don't know what that is is that for the fuze or what please I'm a total noob and need answer please!!:confused::confused::confused::confused::c onfused:

[trueblue4]

Some great skins folks, but is there any one which work both landscape and portrait for WQVGA that contain albuum artwork....most seem to be either portrait or landscape but not both...

[cmelyo]

Because some people might want to develop skins without the need to pay attention to the cut in the landscape view. Skins may use extra buttons etc and it would be ALOT easier to design the 2 versions and then create one skin file that icludes them both.

I understand. But the point is that Nitro does not manage the auto change portrait/landscape of my i900. I would have to switch skin manualy each time I move my phone :eek:
That's why the solution i propose is quite good for me...:D

[Fana7ic]

Oh hai there, Im just a teaser.

Now I know I promised an iPhone skin before and never deliverd, but you can be sure that I´ll finish this one. The images are all finished but I wont be able to do the coding till Im home, because I dont have acess to a windows machine atm.

Dont expect any other resolutions than wvga, though Ill include the SKPROJ file plus every photoshop file that was created during the developement, so the people who want the skin in other resolutions will be able to port it.

[Radio538goeroe]

Hi, I'm a fanatic photoshopper, and i would love to make skin's for nitrogen, but i can't finish my skins because the tutorial isn't finished! I have no idea what to do after the end of the tutorial as it is so far. Can you guys please finish the tutorial??

So i can make some nice skins! And of course if i have some skins i'll post them here!

[Vostradamus]

Hi there :)
Is there a way to make the central button of the wheel do NOTHING?
I'm trying to draw a skin with the album art inside the wheel, but whenever I use the wheel that part is redrawn with the original background image and the album art is gone 'til you change song.
In another skin I already managed to "override" the central button drawing a circular section above it with 4 different buttons, but this does not work with the album art (most probably because it can't have a hotspot and a toggle state)

If, as I presume, this is not possible... just consider this post as a suggestion and/or a feature request :p

[jfrm]

Is it possible to include Album Title or Album Name object in the skin Tool box.

I don't find option for that one...

[jfrm]

Hi, I'm a fanatic photoshopper, and i would love to make skin's for nitrogen, but i can't finish my skins because the tutorial isn't finished! I have no idea what to do after the end of the tutorial as it is so far. Can you guys please finish the tutorial??

So i can make some nice skins! And of course if i have some skins i'll post them here!

The tutorial is enough clear to conclude any skin. It cover all the basics and only left unexplained the menu and equalizer screens that are very easy to understand without help.

Once you have concluded the backgrounds, button and so, move from "Player" option to "browser" option and try to do it by yoursel. It is self explanatory, you will see directly what you do and it is not necesary to make any graphics.

Then, move to "icons" option and load the examples included in the toollbox, which are pretty good.

The work of our master here is incredible and the tollbox amazing easy. I have concluded a complete and very professional 800x480 landscape skin in just some hours (will post it once realize how to include in it the album title).

[TonyNo]

Any tips for troubleshooting strange white lines on a new skin? Almost the dimensions of the hot spot.

[TonyNo]

Bump. No one?

[miko84]

Hi, I feel a little stupid... How do one make landscape skins? Is it possible to make the landscape "part" in Skin toolbox? :confused:

Thanks:rolleyes:

[joyride76]

Hi all,

I'm quite new in skinning...

honestly my idea is to add a very little change in the original skin.
I'm using nitrogen to play music in my car system... sometimes when I browse folders to select album I have some difficulties to read text when driving.

Any suggestion to increase fonts size?
My screen i QVGA

Thanks in advance

Stefano

[czarcorp]

First of all, great tool!

Easy and very fast to use.

I just finished my first skin and it works fine.
But some of my ideas I couldn't get to work probably!

1. I placed two textearea with diffrent font-size and -color
in front of each other. When the player is started both textareas
are correctly drawn, but if the next song starts the one in
the back disappears.
I also tried it with the playback time, but as soon as the time
changes the time in the back disappears.

2. Is it possible to place the album-art-area partly outside the
screen. For example at x=-15 px?

3. Is a vertical playback-bar or volume-bar possible?

4. I tried to use the album-art as button to go to the playlisteditor
but it only works if no cover is shown.

Thx so far
cz

[newuser09]

Hi,first of all,thanks for the work in releasing this application & tutorials...

I have 'played' with a skin in order to change few things around and i was looking at a way of inserting,maybe in the centre of the screen,of the vumeter spectrum analyser,kind of the LEDs bargraph in Winamp .
Is that part of skin OR part of an add-on for the main exe file !?

Thanks in advance...

[JorgeMontano]

Thanks microfi for posting such a great tool, I modified the sample skin in order to be able to use nitrogen in my treo 750 (240*240), the tool and the sample resolutions you posted are very helpful, for those who cannot view correctly nitrogen with the default resolution (240*320) let me tell you that the skin I uploaded (SK2 file) fix the problem you can give it a try if you want, maybe in a couple days I'll deploy my own skin and upload to the forum ;).

Regards,
Jorge